COLCHESTER United served up a dismal Bank Holiday display, in the process handing relegation-haunted Brighton a League One lifeline.

Carl Marston

Colchester United 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 1

COLCHESTER United served up a dismal Bank Holiday display, in the process handing relegation-haunted Brighton a League One lifeline.

Lloyd Owusu popped up with the winner in the 57th minute, so securing a deserved three points for the Sussex visitors. The U's were simply awful.

Burly striker Owusu, on loan from Cheltenham, rose high to head home a teasing free-kick from ex-U's loanee Gary Borrowdale. The ball fizzed past Dean Gerken from eight yards out.

There was still more than half-an-hour for the U's to mount a rally, but Paul Lambert's men never even threatened an equaliser. In fact, keeper Michel Kuipers did not have a save to make throughout the whole of the second period.

Mark Yeates and Ashley Vincent both missed chances in the first half, but in truth Brighton were good value for this victory.

The final whistle was greeted by a chorus of boos.

Squads

COLCHESTER UNITED: Gerken 7, White 6, BALDWIN 7 (sub Trotman, 55), Coyne 6, Lockwood 6, Izzet 6, Hammond 6, Wordsworth 5 (sub Wasiu, 69), Yeates 6, Vincent 5, Hackney 7. Unused subs: Maybury, Tierney, Cousins.

BRIGHTON: Kuipers 7, Whing 7, Elphick 7, Virgo 7, Borrowdale 7, Loft 6 (sub El-Abd, 86), COX 8, Dicker 7, Fraser 7, Hart 7 (sub Andrew, 70), Owusu 7 (sub Davies, 72). Unused subs: McLeod, Hawkins.

Referee: Mr R Booth (Nottinghamshire) 7